By Ismail Auwal
Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternatives (WRAPA) and the Bayero University Kano Centre for Islamic Civilization and Interfaith Dialogue (CICID-BUK) will hold a national dialogue with 100 interfaith and cultural leaders on reducing the prevalence of violence against women and girls (VAWG).
The partners in a press release said the diagologue will focus onon the roles and responsibilities of faith and culture leaders in supporting changes in social norms that inform VAWG in different social settings.
“The aim is to rely on their respected positions of influence a reduction and the promotion of practical solutions that call VAWG offenders to order.”
The program which will supported by by Ford Foundation aimed to encourage conversations seeking to correct faith and culture misrepresentations and attributions in the prevalence of some forms of violence against women and girls in different social settings as well as encourage the enforcement of consequences for violations thereby ensuring protection for vulnerable persons everywhere.
According to the release religious and traditional leaders and institutions are deeply rooted at all social levels with close links in communities. They command respect, trust, and loyalty enabling them to exercise acceptable limited sanctions for social deviations by members in their domains or congregation.
“Faith and Culture leaders, institutions, and platforms also perform additional functions of counseling and arbitration relating to family life. The support offered by palaces, mosques, and churches often fill the gaps in VAWG survivors’ access to legal remedies for violations suffered by vulnerable members of families and society,” the statement reads.
The VAWG National Dialogue is convened under the auspices of a WRAPA project contributing to the reduction of the prevalence of violations, especially in families, schools, and other social spaces, while also seeking to promote the application of consequences against VAWG offenders. For this reason, the Dialogue brings together faith and culture leaders, VAWG response experts, and survivors from across Nigeria. The Dialogue is aimed at creating a safe space for tough conversations that would help to correct faith and cultural perceptions and misrepresentations that allow related narratives to justify some forms of violence against women and girls in different social settings. Through this project, WRAPA uses social accountability from VAWG offenders driven by the strengthened agency and voices of women and girls supported by faith and culture leaders.
The Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA) is a non-governmental, non-political, non-profit making, charitable organization working all over Nigeria promoting and seeking the enforcement of all human rights of women, the elimination of all forms of repugnant practices and violence against women, and the enhancement of their living standards. WRAPA operates an integrated approach that entrenches respect for women’s human dignity, her inclusion in decisions that affect her life, and the development of her community. WRAPA believes in and respects the sanctity of the family and its peaceful growth.
